LAMA DRUPGYU TENZIN, a student of H.E. Kalu Rinpoche since 1972, and a monk from 1974 to 1995, participated in the first traditional three-year retreat for westerners from 1976 to 1980, in France. Kalu Rinpoche subsequently appointed him as Lama of his center in Paris, and later Lama Drupgyu became the first westerner to be appointed Retreat Master. After leading two three-year retreats, he participated for six years in the translation of Jomgon Kangtrul's Encyclopedia of Buddhism. Then he worked in business for some years in Asia.

Lama Drupgyu more recently has supported the establishment of Tsadra Foundation, a New York based non-profit that supports the activities of advanced students of Vajrayana, and assumed the position of Dir. of Programs. He now lives in France and divides his time between personal retreat, the work of Tsadra Foundation, and teaching advanced students of Vajrayana.